national security. The Ministry of Information Development carries out government
policies related to information and communications and encourages collaboration between state and private organizations. The Moldovan legislation does not provide for
comprehensive regulation of information security. Rather, the National Security and
Information Service is endowed with broad authority to monitor and gather information on Internet usage and data transmission related to national security issues.
In July 2008, a Moldovan court ordered the seizure of the PCs of 12 young Internet
users for posting critical comments online against the governing party. The suspects
were accused of illegally inciting people ‘‘to overthrow the constitutional order’’ and
‘‘threaten the stability and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.’’ It is unknown how the authorities obtained the names of the people, but some suggest that
an ISP provided them with the IP addresses of the users. 24
Even though Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe, Internet and cell
phones are used extensively by opposition and civil society groups to organize protests
and voice their opinion. After the parliamentary elections on April 5, 2009, thousands
of Moldovans attempted to gather in Chisinau’s main square to protest the results. The
protesters set the Parliament and president’s offices on fire, images of which were
broadcast around the world. As the guarantees for press freedom are still weak, Moldovan state television continued to show regular TV programming rather than broadcasting events occurring in the capital. 25 The authorities disconnected cell phone
coverage in the main square. More than 10,000 Moldovans joined in on Twitter
(some with GPRS technology on their mobiles) to share their opinions and spread the
news of Chisinau’s political protests. The authorities attempted to shut down a number
of Web sites for a few days, demonstrating a resolute hand in dealing with protesters.
This incident, like others that have transpired in the region (e.g., the Ukrainian Orange
Revolution), reveals the growing role of the social media in Eastern Europe as a tool
for organizing protests and diffusing them online. 26 At the same time, it creates the
concern that governments in the region, aware of the increasing importance of social
media, might attempt to close down free speech outlets anytime they feel threatened.
Surveillance
The National Security and Information Service is authorized to monitor the Internet
and collect any information necessary to prevent infringements of the laws. Surveillance in Moldova is permitted only after obtaining a court order. There is no special
legal act providing for Internet surveillance per se. Nevertheless, surveillance may effectively be carried out on the provider level or at companies. The Parliament is deliberating on legislative proposals, including changes to the Law on Operative-Investigative
Activities and the Law on Telecommunications that would allow government agencies
to carry out surveillance on telephone and electronic communications. The law is
Moldova
205
policies related to information and communications and encourages collaboration between state and private organizations. The Moldovan legislation does not provide for
comprehensive regulation of information security. Rather, the National Security and
Information Service is endowed with broad authority to monitor and gather information on Internet usage and data transmission related to national security issues.
In July 2008, a Moldovan court ordered the seizure of the PCs of 12 young Internet
users for posting critical comments online against the governing party. The suspects
were accused of illegally inciting people ‘‘to overthrow the constitutional order’’ and
‘‘threaten the stability and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.’’ It is unknown how the authorities obtained the names of the people, but some suggest that
an ISP provided them with the IP addresses of the users. 24
Even though Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe, Internet and cell
phones are used extensively by opposition and civil society groups to organize protests
and voice their opinion. After the parliamentary elections on April 5, 2009, thousands
of Moldovans attempted to gather in Chisinau’s main square to protest the results. The
protesters set the Parliament and president’s offices on fire, images of which were
broadcast around the world. As the guarantees for press freedom are still weak, Moldovan state television continued to show regular TV programming rather than broadcasting events occurring in the capital. 25 The authorities disconnected cell phone
coverage in the main square. More than 10,000 Moldovans joined in on Twitter
(some with GPRS technology on their mobiles) to share their opinions and spread the
news of Chisinau’s political protests. The authorities attempted to shut down a number
of Web sites for a few days, demonstrating a resolute hand in dealing with protesters.
This incident, like others that have transpired in the region (e.g., the Ukrainian Orange
Revolution), reveals the growing role of the social media in Eastern Europe as a tool
for organizing protests and diffusing them online. 26 At the same time, it creates the
concern that governments in the region, aware of the increasing importance of social
media, might attempt to close down free speech outlets anytime they feel threatened.
Surveillance
The National Security and Information Service is authorized to monitor the Internet
and collect any information necessary to prevent infringements of the laws. Surveillance in Moldova is permitted only after obtaining a court order. There is no special
legal act providing for Internet surveillance per se. Nevertheless, surveillance may effectively be carried out on the provider level or at companies. The Parliament is deliberating on legislative proposals, including changes to the Law on Operative-Investigative
Activities and the Law on Telecommunications that would allow government agencies
to carry out surveillance on telephone and electronic communications. The law is
Moldova
205